Shuttler Niluka Almost Assured of Place, Search for More Representation Still on Drums
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Wednesday 18th April, 2012 London Olympics - 100 days countdown begins Shuttler Niluka almost assured of place, search for more representation still on drums. But there is hope as UK based Athens BY REEMUS FERNANDO Asian Weightlifting Championship, where Olympic participant, he tested positive for a banned substance. Anuradha Indrajith huttler Niluka Karunaratne is the Although he could take his case to the Cooray and several only sportsman to have attained qual- Arbitration Court for a reduced ban, he others vie for qualify- Sifying standards to represent Sri has not received the backing of the coun- ing standards at ath- Lanka at the 30th edition of the Olympics try’s weightlifting hierarchy, which effec- letics events in the so far, as the 100-day countdown begins for tively put paid to his chances of compet- near future. Middle the world’s showpiece sports event in ing at international level, in the immedi- distance runner London, today.But there is still hope, as a ate future. Chaminda Wijekoon handful of sportsmen and women are The odds of boxer Manju vowed to fight for working towards reaching last minute Wanniarachchi winning an Olympic his place at the qualifying standards and obtaining wild- medal reached dramatic heights when he Olympics, despite his card entries. won the Commonwealth Games gold heel injury resurfac- According to the BWF world rankings medal. But since the time he was stripped ing, while Beijing par- Niluka Karunaratne issued on April 12, Niluka, the oldest of of the gold medal for alleged use of a ticipant Nadeeka the Karunaratne siblings, has secured 51st banned substance, boxing received bad Lakmali, US based hur- place in the men’s singles world bad- publicity.Recently, Sri Lanka’s boxers dler Christine Merrill, high jumper where they (winners and runners-up from minton rankings. He is likely to secure failed to reach the required standards at a Manjula Kumara, 400 metre specialist five continents) will be drawn against the one of the 38 places allocated for top qualifying round competition for Chandrika Subashini are among the oth- highest ranked 16 teams and the winner ranked players in the men’s singles draw, Olympics. ers who are close to reaching qualifying and runner-up of the FIVB Beach as the Badminton World Federation allows There is still a chance for Sri Lanka’s standards. Volleyball World Cup Olympic only one player for each country, which 100 women pugilists. But hopefuls, Anusha Beijing participant Mayumi Raheem’s Qualification tournament. Mahesh Perera, has more than one shuttler among the top Kodithuwakku, Nilmini Jayasinghe and sister Machiko, Mathew Abeysinghe and Wasantha Rathnapala, Sampath Peiris and Shiromali Weeraratne will have to punch Pubudu Ekanayake in the men’s category spots, in the rankings. rankings are unlikely to drop before the Heshan Unamboowe have requested hard at the qualifying event in May in and Thakshila Neranjali, Geethika There are several players from ranking deadline closes on May 3. SLASU approval to take part in a qualify- China to keep their dreams alive to make Gunawardena, Nirosha Gunasinghe and Malaysia (4), Japan (4), China (5), There was the belief that some of those ing swimming meet in May, where they it to London, where women’s boxing Sagarika Gunasinghe in the women’s cate- Indonesia (4), India (4), Denmark (4), who made it to the previous edition would will strive for at least ‘B’ Grade standards. makes its Olympic debut. gory are in the provisional squads. Thailand (3) and Korea (2) in the top 50. earn early qualification to represent the However, SLASU has already named Athletics had been in the forefront of The Sri Lanka Archery Association has But they will get only one place each in country at this edition. Of them, Unamboowe and Rishika Udugampola as the country’s Olympic sports. Sri Lanka requested for a wildcard entry and its sec- the singles draw, which means Niluka is weightlifter Chinthana Vidanage was on wildcard entrants. won its two Olympic medals through ath- retary, Cdr. H. U. Silva is confident that of almost certain of his place at the top, as he was ranked 16th at the end of Two teams each in men’s and women’s letics. Having failed to maintain the spark the five hopefuls, at least one would reach Olympics. According to Parakrama the Beijing event. But weightlifting was categories have qualified for Continental of enthusiasm generated during the 1990s, the qualifying standard, at the Olympic Basnayake, the president of the dealt a severe blow when the Cup championships in beach volleyball. which resulted in a second Olympic medal Qualifying Championship, to be held in Badminton Federation, Niluka has com- Commonwealth Games gold medalist was The winners and runners-up of this cham- in 2000, athletics has been in the dol- the United States. pleted his qualifying tournaments, but his slapped with a four-year ban, after the last pionship will qualify for the Olympics SLC congratulates Sangakkara President of Sri Lanka Cricket Upali Dharmadasa along with his Executive Committee, the staff and all cricketers both past SLC declined Wisden request and present convey their heartiest congratula- tions to former National Captain Kumar to interview Sanga Sangakkara for being recognised as the Although Sri Lanka Cricket International Cricketer of the Year by the congratulated star batsman Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack for the year 2011. Kumar Sangakkara for being “Kumar joins a special selected as both Wisden’s brand of past greats Leading International Cricketer dating back to 1889 in the World and one of its Five and the award he Cricketers of the Year in the receives by Wisden Almanack’s 149th edition pub- is not only a glob- lished last week, ‘The Island’ can Sri Lanka’s rugby players are seen in action against Chinese Taipei whom they beat 36-8 in the opener of the al recognition but confirm that SLC had declined a Division 1 tournament in the Asian 5 Nations in the Philippines. a National request by Wisden to interview Kumar Sangakkara. achievement by a Nishantha true son of our Wisden’s Editor, Lawrence soil,” a media Booth was in Sri Lanka during England’s tour of the island and Lion-hearted Sri Lanka up release issued by he says his attempts to interview the former Sri Lanka captain SLC said yesterday. were turned down by SLC. When ‘The Island’ contacted SLC Secretary Nishantha “Whilst wishing Ranatunga to ask the reasons for the board’s refusal for the against Singapore today him the best of luck interview, Ranatunga declined to comment. in all his future endeavors, SLC is appreciates his dedication, discipline and deter- extremely proud HSBC Asian 5 Nations Rugby mination to give of his best to his mother coun- of all his try in reaching cricketing excellence… Kumar is Sri Lanka’s cracking start to today, which boasts of several department which worried coach achievements a role model to be emulated by all young hope- the Asian 5 Nations will be put to expats who meet the IRB qualify- Phil Greening in the opener, throughout fuls,” the above said release further adds. the test in Manila, Philippines, ing criterion to make the where three Lankans were yellow his career and Sangakkara when they take on a plucky Singapore team. Singapore, carded. Singapore XV in the second day though losing their opener in the The last time Sri Lanka of matches in the Division 1 tour- tournament to the Philippines, is played against Singapore was in nament, at the Rizal Memorial a strong team and boasts of a rat- 2010, in the final of the Division 1 Stadium, this evening. ing of number 2 in the division 1 tournament of the Asian 5 Russian team suspends rider The islanders shoved all the segment of the tournament. Nations, where they ran out win- talk about fielding a depleted Sri Lanka will once again ners. Sri Lanka earned a promo- side, when they overcame their hope for a repeat performance tion to the top division with that who confesses doping first hurdle against Chinese from fullback Reza Mubarak, who win, but failed to survive against Taipei (36-8) on Sunday, a feat was in fine form with his kicking giants of the likes of Japan and GENEVA (AP) — Russian “deeply regret(ted)” taking the dent. Along with that, Katusha which has helped them share the boots against Chinese Taipei. Hong Kong and crash-landed in cycling team Katusha suspended banned substance, which was Team strongly recommends the top spot in the points table, with Mubarak’s contribution in the the Division 1 segment, once Denis Galimzyanov and pub- revealed in an out-of-competition rider to provide a full assistance lished a handwritten confession urine sample taken in Italy last with authorised anti-doping bod- host the Philippines. Both Sri first match was three conversions again. from the rider on Tuesday that month. ies.” Lanka and Philippines earned and a penalty. The heavy for- Sri Lanka also has a match he used EPO. “It was my personal decision The World Anti-Doping Code bonus points for their wins. wards should provide the Sri against hosts Philippines in the Galimzyanov’s letter, posted and my responsibility,” the docu- allows for athletes to earn The young Sri Lankan outfit, Lankans with the much needed Division 1 tournament which is on Katusha’s official website, ment said, adding that Katusha reduced bans by sharing infor- led by Yoshitha Rajapaksa, con- muscle to match the heavy expats scheduled for April 21, almost guarantees that one of “has nothing to do with what mation about how they doped fronts a different opposition in the Singapore side, but it’s this (Saturday).